Dh10 million plant will recycle edible oil waste

Dh10 million plant will recycle edible oil waste
By a staff reporter KHALEEJ TIMES 10 April 2008

DUBAI — The Dubai Municipality and Al Serkal Group have announced the launch of a Dh10-million waste treatment facility in Al Aweer, dedicated to recycling edible oil waste from hotels, restaurants and food processing factories. The plant will start functioning early next month.

Hussain Nasser Lootah, Acting Director-General of Dubai Municipality, said the new plant has been constructed in accordance with the highest international standards. It is equipped with state-of-the-art machinery to handle separation of oils and grease accumulated in grease traps and lift stations, and at food processing companies, restaurants, hotels, hospital kitchens and other food-related industries.

These wastes will be collected and transported by trucks to the waste treatment plant, where it will be classified either as hazardous material and sludge, or as recyclable material (re-usable water or oil and dry solids) that will be further treated for future use.

"This is the first treatment plant for edible oil wastes in the entire region. At Dubai Municipality, it's our policy to join hands with the private sector to set up such ventures," Lootah said.

The municipality has urged these establishments to abide by the rules and regulations laid down by the civic body. The municipality has asked them to allow only certified companies to collect and transport waste edible oils from the grease trap of food industries to deliver to the new plant.

The treatment plant has been built and managed by Al Serkal Group, on a 15-year build, operate and transfer (BOP) agreement with the municipality.

The new plant will alleviate pressure on the existing station in Al Aweer, and also, will create several job opportunities for those qualified in the field. The plant now has an optimum capacity to treat and process 50 cubic metres of grease and other wastes. In its second phase, capacity will be enhanced to handle 100 cubic metres of wastes.

A circular, issued by the municipality, makes it mandatory for food preparing establishments to instal grease traps and interceptors in their drainage system to separate the fats, oils and grease and maintain them by cleaning regularly.

The circular also stipulates that cleaning, maintenance and transporting of wastes from the grease traps and interceptors need to be carried out by the companies approved and authorised by the municipality and they must deliver these wastes to the Waste Edible Oil Treatment Plant in Al Aweer.

The food establishments are also required to maintain a register in which all data related to the process of getting rid of fats, oils and grease is to be recorded, especially showing the date of their collection and their quantity as well as the name of the company which cleaned and collected the waste oil.

While Al Serkal Group will build and operate the facility, the Dubai Municipality, acting through its Sewage and Environmental divisions, will implement the rules and regulations, supervise all operations and play an active role in implementing and adhering to safety policies.